Objective condition assessment is essential to make better decisions for safety and serviceability of existing civil infrastructure systems. This study explores the condition of an existing transit guideway system that has been in service for thirty-five years. The structural system is composed of six-span continuous prestressed concrete bridge segments. The overall transit system incorporates a number of continuous bridges which share common design details, geometries, and loading conditions. The original analysis is based on certain simplifying assumptions such as rigid behavior over supports and simplified tendon/concrete/steel plate interaction. The current objective is to conduct a representative study for a more accurate understanding of the structural system and its behavior. The scope of the study is to generate finite element models (FEMs) to be used in static and dynamic parameter sensitivity studies, as well load rating and reliability analysis of the structure. The FEMs are used for eigenvalue analysis and simulations. Parameter sensitivity studies consider the effect of changing critical parameters, including material properties, prestress loss, and boundary and continuity conditions, on the static and dynamic structural response. Load ratings are developed using an American Association for State Highway Transportation Officials Load and Resistance Factor Rating (AASHTO LRFR) approach. The reliability of the structural system is evaluated based on the data obtained from various finite element models. Recommendations for experimental validation of the FEM are presented. This study is expected to provide information to make better decisions for operations, maintenance and safety requirements; to be a benchmark for future studies, to establish a procedure and methodology for structural condition assessment, and to contribute to the general research body of knowledge in condition assessment and structural health monitoring.

Bridges are critical components of highway networks, which provide mobility and economical vitality to a nation. Ensuring the safety and regular operation as well as accurate structural assessment of bridges is essential. Structural Identification (St-Id) can be utilized for better assessment of structures by integrating experimental and analytical technologies in support of decision-making. St-Id is defined as creating parametric or nonparametric models to characterize structural behavior based on structural health monitoring (SHM) data. In a recent study by the ASCE St-Id Committee, St-Id framework is given in six steps, including modeling, experimentation and ultimately decision making for estimating the performance and vulnerability of structural systems reliably through the improved simulations using monitoring data. In some St-Id applications, there can be challenges and considerations related to this six-step framework. For instance not all of the steps can be employed; thereby a subset of the six steps can be adapted for some cases based on the various limitations. In addition, each step has its own characteristics, challenges, and uncertainties due to the considerations such as time varying nature of civil structures, modeling and measurements. It is often discussed that even a calibrated model has limitations in fully representing an existing structure; therefore, a family of models may be well suited to represent the structure’s response and performance in a probabilistic manner. The principle objective of this dissertation is to investigate nonparametric and parametric St-Id approaches by considering uncertainties coming from different sources to better assess the structural condition for decision making. In the first part of the dissertation, a nonparametric StId approach is employed without the use of an analytical model. The new methodology, which is iv successfully demonstrated on both lab and real-life structures, can identify and locate the damage by tracking correlation coefficients between strain time histories and can locate the damage from the generated correlation matrices of different strain time histories. This methodology is found to be load independent, computationally efficient, easy to use, especially for handling large amounts of monitoring data, and capable of identifying the effectiveness of the maintenance. In the second part, a parametric St-Id approach is introduced by developing a family of models using Monte Carlo simulations and finite element analyses to explore the uncertainty effects on performance predictions in terms of load rating and structural reliability. The family of models is developed from a parent model, which is calibrated using monitoring data. In this dissertation, the calibration is carried out using artificial neural networks (ANNs) and the approach and results are demonstrated on a laboratory structure and a real-life movable bridge, where predictive analyses are carried out for performance decrease due to deterioration, damage, and traffic increase over time. In addition, a long-span bridge is investigated using the same approach when the bridge is retrofitted. The family of models for these structures is employed to determine the component and system reliability, as well as the load rating, with a distribution that incorporates various uncertainties that were defined and characterized. It is observed that the uncertainties play a considerable role even when compared to calibrated model-based predictions for reliability and load rating, especially when the structure is complex, deteriorated and aged, and subjected to variable environmental and operational conditions. It is recommended that a family-of-models approach is suitable for structures that have less redundancy, high operational importance, are deteriorated, and are performing under close capacity and demand levels

A significant portion of the reinforced concrete railway bridges in Sweden are reaching their designed lifespan and are scheduled to be demolished and replaced in the upcoming years. To limit the econom-icand environmental impact related to the replacement of existing railway infrastructure, a comprehen-siveevaluation of their capacity is required with the aim of extending its lifespan. In fact, experimental evidence has shown that some of these bridges may have a higher capacity than previously determined due to the conservative assumptions used during their design. The proper stress distribution pattern at the ballast-concrete interface is among the factors that need to be studied, as research on the topic has shown that some of the available guidelines to calculate it can produce conservative results. In this paper, available analytical models for computing the internal forces in concrete bridges due to train axle loads are compared to a numerical model calibrated using the experimental results obtained from the test of ballasted reinforced concrete trough bridge, a typical structural type found in Sweden, and existing research. As a first step, a literature review of existing numerical modeling strategies for ballast-edconcrete railway structures (e.g., finite element models, discrete element models, and their combina-tion)is conducted. Then, the most appropriate numerical modelling strategy is identified and used to develop the numerical model of the bridge, including the ballast. Finally, results of contact pressure and vertical stresses in the numerical model are compared to those obtained analytically.

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The full text will be available at the end of the embargo: 26th April 2025

Dans ce manuscrit, un modèle complet pour la simulation de l'écoulement d'un fluide thermor éactif à travers un milieu poreux fortement compressible est présenté. Ce modèle est utilisé pour l'étude des procédés d'élaboration des matériaux composites par infusion à travers leur épaisseur (Liquid Resin Infusion-LRI et Resin Film Infusion-RFI ). Dans ces procédés, le mélange entre les renforts et la résine liquide est réalisé dans la direction transverse aux plans des préformes pendant la phase de mise en forme. Les coˆuts sont ainsi réduits et les problèmes de remplissage éliminés. Ces procédés sont néanmoins peu maîtrisés et les caractéristiques de la pièce finale difficilement prévisibles (principalement les épaisseurs et les porosités). La mise au point d'un modèle numérique constituerait un bon outil pour développer et finaliser de nouvelles solutions composites. D'un point de vue physique, l'infusion de la résine à travers l'épaisseur des préformes est une conséquence de la pression appliquée sur l'empilement résine/préforme. Dans cette analyse multi-physique deux types de problèmes sont rencontrés. Tout d'abord, on connait mal les conditions de couplage entre les zones liquides, gouvernées par les équations de Stokes, et les préformes imprégnées assimilées à des milieux poreux, gouvernées par une loi de Darcy et une loi de comportement mécanique non-linéaire. Par ailleurs, les interactions entre l'écoulement de la résine et la compression des préformes ne sont pas bien maîtrisées. Le modèle développé inclut donc une condition de Beaver-Joseph- Schaffman modifiée pour le couplage entre les zones de Darcy et de Stokes. Une formulation ALE pour l'écoulement de la résine dans un milieu poreux déformable subissant de fortes déformations est utilisée et couplée à une formulation Lagrangienne Réactualisée pour la partie solide. Ces deux mécanismes physiques sont couplés à des modèles thermo-chimiques pour traiter la réticulation de la résine sous l'action du cycle de température. Dans ce travail, un certain nombre d'outils numériques et de nouvelles formulations ont été développés en vue de simuler les procédés LRI et RFI. Chaque outil est étudié et validé analytiquement ou numériquement avant d'être intégré dans les modèles LRI /RFI. Des simulations numériques d'infusion sont ensuite présentées et commentées, puis une première comparaison avec des essais expérimentaux est proposée.

Le contexte de ce travail concerne le process d'Infusion de Résine Liquide (LRI) développé dans le cadre du projet « FUSelage COMPosite » par DAHER SOCATA. Ce process de fabrication permet de réaliser des pièces de formes complexes et des panneaux entiers de fuselage en composites, ce qui réduit considérablement les étapes d'assemblages et donc les temps de production. Les travaux de thèse portent sur l'identification expérimentale du comportement d'un fuselage composite. Ce travail se divise en deux parties qui sont la qualification du contrôle non destructif (CND) par rapport à une taille de défaut critique et l'identification du comportement d'une structure composite orthotrope en présence de ce défaut. Le premier volet consiste à évaluer les techniques de CND basées sur des mesures de champs (acoustiques, thermiques et densimétriques), capables de détecter des défauts internes de types délaminage et porosité au sein de structures composites monolithiques et sandwichs, et fournissant une visualisation des résultats par une cartographie de défauts 2D ou 3D. Le choix de ces méthodes a été motivé par la volonté de DAHER SOCATA d'acquérir de nouvelles compétences en matière de CND. Le deuxième volet consiste à évaluer les paramètres élastiques d'une structure composite orthotrope (structure comprenant une zone saine et une zone localement dégradée) via une procédure d'identification, à partir de mesures de champs, globale et locale par recalage de modèles éléments finis. Cette procédure se décompose en quatre parties avec tout d'abord l'identification des propriétés de la structure saine, ensuite la localisation de la zone dégradée, l'intégration de celle-ci dans le modèle éléments finis, et l'identification des propriétés de cette dernière. / The context of this work concerns the process of Liquid Resin Infusion (LRI) developed under the project "composite fuselage" by DAHER SOCATA. This manufacturing process can produce parts with complex shapes and entire panels of composite fuselage, reducing assembly steps and therefore the production time. The thesis work focused on the experimental identification of the behavior of a composite fuselage. This work is divided into two parts which are the qualification of non destructive testing (NDT) compared to a critical defect size and the identification of the behavior of an orthotropic composite structure with defect. The first part is to evaluate the NDT techniques based on full field measurements (acoustic, thermal and densimetric), capable of detecting internal defects as porosities and delaminations in monolithic and sandwich composite structures, and providing a results visualization by a 2D or 3D defects map. The choice of these methods was motivated by DAHER SOCATA which wants to learn new NDT skills. The second part is to evaluate the elastic parameters of an orthotropic composite structure (structure composed by a virgin zone and a damaged zone) through an identification process from field measurements, by global and local step. This procedure is divided into four parts with two identification steps and a image processing step.

Abstract An experimental method was developed that demonstrated the size effects in forming thin sheet metals, and a finite element model was developed to predict the effects demonstrated by the experiment. A universal testing machine (UTM) was used to form aluminum and copper of varying thicknesses (less than 1mm) into a hemispherical dome. A stereolithography additive manufacturing technology was used to fabricate the punch and die from a UV curing resin. There was agreement between the experimental and numerical models. The results showed that geometric size effects were significant for both materials, and these effects increased as the thickness of the sheets decreased. The demonstration presents an inexpensive method of testing small-scale size effects in forming processes, which can be altered easily to produce different shapes and clearances.

A compreensão da circulação da água em aquíferos requer o levantamento de suas características intrínsecas relacionados à hidrogeologia e às variáveis do ciclo hidrológico. Embora a interface entre as formações geológicas do Sistema Aquífero Guarani (SAG) venha sendo mapeada para verificar a susceptibilidade à explotação e contaminação, faz-se necessário conhecer a heterogeneidade estratigráfica em suas áreas de afloramento. Este estudo visa investigar as propriedades hidrogeológicas usando técnicas geofísicas e modelar numericamente o escoamento subterrâneo em área de afloramento do SAG. Foram utilizados o Ground Penetratring Radar com antena de 200MHz, a sondagem elétrica vertical com arranjo Schlumberger e o imageamento elétrico com arranjo dipolo-dipolo. A interface usada para a modelagem numérica por elementos finitos foi o Simulador de Processos em Aquíferos (SPA). As técnicas geofísicas contribuíram para o modelo numérico com a definição de duas regiões com diferentes condutividades hidráulicas, sendo a maior condutividade próxima à área de descarga. Também foi possível definir uma condição de contorno de fluxo não-nulo pela interpretação dos imageamentos elétricos. Um longo período de 14 anos hidrológicos para uma área com intensa mudança de uso do solo e registro de crise hídrica foi bem simulado pelo modelo numérico apresentando coeficientes de Kling-Gupta não paramétrico (KGENP) para os poços entre 0,52 (P8) e 0,89 (P16) e para vazão de base entre 0,66 (EF-SMF) e 0,93 (CP2). A análise das incertezas e heterogeneidade espaçotemporal da recarga podem contribuir para este trabalho e melhorar o balanço hídrico da área de afloramento do SAG. / Groundwater flux comprehension depends on knowledge of hydrogeological parameters and the water cycle, specially the recharge process. Although geological interfaces of the Guarani Aquifer System have been mapping to verify exploitation and contamination susceptibility, stratigraphy heterogeneity of the outcrop areas are not thoroughly known. The aims of this study are hydrogeological characterization from geophysical techniques and groundwater flux numerical modelling. Ground Penetrating Radar with a 200 MHz antenna, vertical electrical sounding with Schlumberger array and electrical resistivity tomography with dipole-dipole array were used. Also, a finite element model was applied to groundwater flux analysis. Geophysical techniques helped to define two hydraulic conductivity regions and a specified flux boundary condition. A 14-year-long groundwater flux model for an area under intense land use changes and water shortage scenario was well simulated. The non-parametric Kling-Gupta (KGENP) coefficient for the groundwater level varied between 0.52 (P8) and 0.89 (P16); and the KGENP calculated with the baseflow values ranged between 0.66 (EF-SMF) and 0.93 (CP2). More studies are suggested to scientific improvement related to the uncertainty and spatiotemporal heterogeneity recharge of outcrop zones of the Guarani Aquifer System to a better water balance understanding.